New development in printable batteries

5 August 2009 News

Batteries have traditionally been bulky and heavy devices. This could now be set to change, thanks to a new cutting-edge battery developed by the Fraunhofer Institute.

The characteristics of the battery differ significantly from those of conventional batteries. The printable version weighs less than one gram on the scales, is thinner than one millimetre and can therefore be integrated into bank cards, for example. The battery contains no mercury and is in this respect environmentally friendly. Its voltage is 1,5 V and batteries can be placed in series, as is the case with conventional versions.

The new type of battery is composed of different layers: a zinc anode and a manganese cathode, among others. Zinc and manganese react with one another and produce electricity. However, the anode and the cathode layer dissipate gradually during this chemical process. Therefore, the battery is suitable for applications which have a limited life span or a limited power requirement, for instance greeting cards.

The batteries are printed using a silk-screen printing method similar to that used for t-shirts and signs. A kind of rubber lip presses the printing paste through a screen onto the substrate and a template covers the areas that are not to be printed on. Through this process it is possible to apply comparatively large quantities of printing paste, and the individual layers are slightly thicker than a hair. The researchers have already produced the batteries on a laboratory scale and anticipate that the first commercial products could be available by the end of this year.

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